The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 76:
The Best TV of 2018

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we get the full band back together - Rich, Kevin and Jordan - for the first of our "Best of 2018" episodes. And where better to start than with Television, and our look at the very finest network, cable and streaming entertainment this past year had to offer.

From new shows like The Haunting at Hill House, Titans and Homecoming, to brilliant returning favorites like The Good Place, American Vandal and Westworld - we each watched over 500+ scripted shows this past year to bring you this list. Okay, okay, that's clearly not true, but we do watch a lot of TV.

This year's categories include:
Most Surprising Show
Worst Show
Best Character
Best Actor/Actress
Best First Season
Best Episode
Top 3 Best Shows
...and more!

So join us, as we attempt to bring some semblance of order to the chaos of the modern TV landscape, and sum up one heck of a year for entertainment's most crowded and varied medium. This...is the Joy of Geek!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 75:
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Review and SpoilerCast

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) review one of the biggest, most anticipated films of the year, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. And to do so, we welcome Harry Potter expert / Pottermore scholar Jacob Deal, to help us discuss the film and explore all of its fascinating secrets. And since this is a SpoilerCast, Jacob also shares his stunning theory about the film’s ending and the true nature of Grindelwald’s plan, and it’s a pretty airtight case.

But before we tear J.K. Rowling’s plot to shreds in search of the truth, we’ve got some other  geek culture news to discuss, including: the passing of the legendary Stan Lee, the casting of Pedro Pascal in The Mandalorian, the behind-the-scenes origins of Poe Dameron, and more. We also discuss what we’ve been watching and reading, including Doctor Who’s Eleventh Series and Jodie Whittaker, Star Trek: Discovery, The Creepy Line, Titans, Young Justice, DC Daily and much, much more.

So join us, as we reveal Credence’s true identity, debate J.K. Rowling’s competence as a world-builder, recast the role of Grindelwald, and discover the hidden secret of Pottermore - all in one, jam-packed episode. This...is The Joy of Geek!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 76:
Revisiting GOTY 2015, Diablo Immortal, Final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich and Jordan) go back in time to 2015 to discuss our favorite games from year brought us The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Fallout 4, Until Dawn, Life is Strange, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and so much more. We actually missed our chance to record this episode three years ago, but since then we've had a lot more time to play and reflect on 2015's crop of titles, and we're ready to fill in this gap with the added benefit of hindsight.

Our 2015 GOTY Awards Include:
Most Surprising Game
Most Disappointing Game
Worst Game
Best Character ​
Honorable Mentions
...and the Top 3 Best Games of 2015!

We also keep one foot firmly pla​nted in the present to discuss two big news stories in the gaming world: The backlash over the Diablo Immortal announcement at BlizzCon, and the final Nintendo Direct for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And as always, we talk about some of the games we've been playing recently, including Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the opening hours of Red Dead Redemption 2, Grim Fandango on Switch, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters, Dead Space 3 Co-op and more.

So join us, as we fill in a conspicuous hole in our episode library, and answer the age-old question: "Just how long does it take to finish The Witcher 3?" This...is the Joy of Gaming!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 74:
The Haunting of Hill House, Halloween (2018), Daredevil S3 and Titans

On this decidedly spooky episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) discuss two of the biggest hits of the Halloween season: Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and Blumhouse’s Halloween (2018). Aside from their genre, Hill House and Halloween have something else in common: they are both semi-reboots of classic properties, re-imagined to appeal to a new audience. We’ll weigh in on the success of each, and discuss their overall significance in the modern media landscape.

In addition to horror offerings, this season has given us two bold new superhero series to sink our teeth into - Daredevil Season 3 and Titans on the DC Universe app - and we’ve got a lot to say about each. We also discuss some recent news, including: a swath of Netflix series cancellations including Iron Fist and Luke Cage, other cancellations throughout TV, a release date and director announcement for DC’s Birds of Prey film, Ewan McGregor (possibly) playing Black Mask, A Flash Gordon reboot, and much, much more.

So join us, as we meet the Doom Patrol for the first time, turn into a green tiger and then show up at Netflix’s HQ to complain about the recent cancellation of American Vandal. This...is the Joy of Geek!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 75:
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Super Mario Party and Our Multiplayer Gaming History

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich and Jordan) discuss two of the most anticipated Fall gaming releases - Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Super Mario Party for Nintendo Switch - and take a nostalgia-fueled look back at the multiplayer games that had the greatest impact on us, from the NES/Genesis era until today.

We also discuss two of the biggest stories in gaming right now - the unfortunate and unexpected shuttering of Telltale Games, and the recent comments made by Rockstar Games CEO Dan Houser about 100-hour work weeks. Both of these stories inevitably lead us to the topic of crunch and overwork, as well as workers rights within the gaming industry.

So join us, as we celebrate yet another incredible Fall gaming season, and do our best to remember that it’s people and passion that make these games possible. This...is the Joy of Gaming!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 73:
Venom Review, Titans Episode 1 and a Tour of the DC Universe Streaming App

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) discuss two big new entries in the superhero media landscape - Marvel’s new film Venom starring Tom Hardy, and DC’s mature-rated take on Titans which just launched on their DC Universe streaming service.

Both Venom and Titans faced serious skepticism from critics and fans in the lead-up to release, and both have been performed far better than anyone expected. We offer our in-depth thoughts on both properties, and take a whirlwind tour of the shows, movies and comics currently available on the DC Universe app.

So join us, as we learn the true story behind the “F**k Batman” quote, join forces with a symbiote for a tour of San Francisco, and wonder why The Dark Knight Rises isn’t on the DC Universe app yet. This...is the Joy of Geek!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 72:
The Best of Spider-Man (in Movies, TV and Comics)

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) continue our celebration of the release of Insomniac’s Spider-Man for PS4 with a look back at the very best movies, TV shows and comics starring the famous web-slinger. From the Sam Raimi Trilogy to Homecoming, and from Spider-Man: The Animated Series to Spider-Island, we discuss the broader Spider-Man universe and choose our absolute favorites.

But first, we talk about what we’ve been watching and reading lately, including: American Vandal Season 2, The Dragon Prince, A Simple Favor, Shadowman and Grass Kings by Matt Kindt, and more. We also discuss the new Captain Marvel trailer, Henry Cavill’s indecipherable Superman tweet, a live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender, pics of Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker, and much more.

So join us, as we swing across New York in search of thugs to web up, and celebrate the recent history of Marvel’s most relatable character. This...is The Joy of Geek!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Special Edition:
Frontier Interview with Filmmaker Elliot Brady

On this Special Edition episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) interview Elliot Brady, the screenwriter of a new short film premiering at the Charlotte Film Festival this weekend. Frontier is the story of a young girl, known only as little, who is inspired by her favorite comic book western to leave her home and family behind to seek adventure - and ultimately danger - in the wilderness. We discuss the 2+ year journey this film took from page to screen, and the seemingly insurmountable challenges its creators had to overcome in the pursuit of art.

So join us, as we take a whirlwind tour through the world of independent film, where industry speak about RED Digital Cameras and Color Correction is commonplace, and the struggle is most certainly real. This...is the Joy of Geek!

***Frontier will premiere this Saturday at Charlotte Film Festival (details here). Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a sample of the film’s soundtrack.***

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 74:
Insomniac's Spider-Man Review and SpoilerCast and September Nintendo Direct

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich and Jordan) discuss one of the most anticipated PS4 games of the year, Insomniac's Spider-Man. With a story that picks up 8 years into the career of everybody's favorite web-slinger, Spider-Man is an epic, open-world adventure full of side quests, colorful characters, and satisfying combat, and it's already a massive hit with players and critics alike. We've both played the game from start to finish, and offer our SPOILER-FILLED thoughts on its overall success - both as the latest entry in a long line of Spider-Man games, and as the possible heir-apparent to the superhero video game throne. In other words, is this the Arkham Asylum of the Spider-Man universe? We'll let you know what we think.

But first, we discuss the recent and momentous September Nintendo Direct, which was absolutely jam-packed with new trailers and announcements, including Animal Crossing on Switch, Luigi's Mansion 3, A new character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Katamari Damacy Reroll, Yoshi's Crafted World, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Gamefreak's new RPG Town, Nintendo Switch Online details, and much more. We also discuss some of the other games we've been playing lately, including Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Messenger, and Into the Breach.

So join us, as we celebrate a spectacular new superhero game, a Nintendo Direct full of surprises, and the un-beatable news that the creators of Danganronpa and Zero Escape just started a new studio together. This...is the Joy of Gaming!

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 71:
Fall Film Season 2018 Preview

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) bring you our epic, 2018 Fall Film Season Preview. And although this fall’s lineup doesn’t include new releases from the MCU, Pixar or Star Wars universes, its still shaping up to be an awesome season for moviegoers. We’ll discuss the most exciting and significant films - from Mortal Engines and Bad Times a the El Royale, to Aquaman, Venom, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and beyond - and offer our thoughts on which ones look most jaw-dropping, epic, surprising and/or dramatically promising.

But first, we discuss some of the latest geek culture news, and wax poetic about the TV shows, movies and comics we’ve been enjoying recently. Our topics include: new Doom Patrol and Star Wars: Episode IX casting announcements, A Quiet Place sequel news, the new Cormoran Strike novel Lethal White, Jack Ryan on Amazon, BBC America’s Killing Eve, The Good Place, Sons of Anarchy, Babyteeth, Prom of the Dead and more.

So join us, as we discuss a number of would-be nominees for the Most Popular Film Oscar, that will now just have to settle for making fans really, really happy. This...is the Joy of Geek!